High-class devotees

Expressions researched:
"high-class devotee" |"high-class devotees"

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

Just like Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu talked with some philosophy, Vedānta-sūtra. And when there was high-class devotee like Rāmānanda Rāya, He discussed about Kṛṣṇa's līlā. You'll find this. Not that with everyone He discussed Kṛṣṇa's līlā. No.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 23, 1972:

Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed that mahā-bhāva. That mahā-bhāva is not possible for ordinary man. It is especially prerogative of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and who played the part of Rādhārāṇī, although He's Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So mahā-bhāva, the ecstasies, that is not to be imitated by us, but to be aware of this fact that how mahā-bhāgavata, mahā-bhāva, they treat with Kṛṣṇa. So generally, advancement, especially those who are preachers, they should remain on the second platform. Even a mahā-bhāgavata, when he becomes preacher, he comes down to the second platform. He does not remain on the topmost platform. He plays the part of second platform. And sometimes it is stated in the Bible, I think, that Jesus Christ said, "I had many things to say, but I am not saying." Is it not? So actually, the mahā-bhāgavata, he has many things to say, but because he's preacher he does not say everything to the neophyte devotees. Because they are not competent to accept that. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu...

The best example is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He's Kṛṣṇa Himself, but He's playing the part of mahā-bhāgavata. He never discussed Kṛṣṇa's rasa-līlā publicly. Never discussed. You won't find any time that Caitanya Mahāprabhu is discussing rasa-līlā publicly. No. Never. He was, He simply dealt with ordinary persons by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and whenever there were scholars, there were philosophers... Just like Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī, He talked with some philosophy, Vedānta-sūtra. And when there was high-class devotee like Rāmānanda Rāya, He discussed about Kṛṣṇa's līlā. You'll find this. Not that with everyone He discussed Kṛṣṇa's līlā. No. Neither He discussed philosophy with everyone. But for the general public, so long He remained at Jagannātha Purī, every evening, He was simply organizing great saṅkīrtana party. And for four hours, at least, He was going on saṅkīrtana in four parties. We have studied this thing from Caitanya-caritāmṛta, or Teachings of Lord Caitanya, that from the dealings of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, because although He's Kṛṣṇa Himself, He's playing the part of ācārya, playing the part of devotee.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

That means they cannot understand rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛti. They cannot understand. And therefore in their community you won't find any high-class devotee. Simply official sentiment. That's all.

Conversation with Devotees -- March 31, 1975, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Some of them say that "Kṛṣṇa, becoming, before becoming polluted." They say like that.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, they do.

Prabhupāda: That means childhood age, there is no pollution, and youthhood age, Kṛṣṇa's, it was polluted by the gopīs. This is their version. Kṛṣṇa becomes polluted.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, they say like that.

Prabhupāda: Do they say like that?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. I have spoken to them, in Hyderabad, that Bāla Kṛṣṇa dāsa. And another thing they say is that Rādhārāṇī's name is not mentioned in Bhāgavata. So this whole emphasis on Rādhā is not correct.

Acyutānanda: Is not correct.

Prabhupāda: That means they cannot understand rādhā-kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛti. They cannot understand. And therefore in their community you won't find any high-class devotee. Simply official sentiment. That's all.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I... Is Vallabhācārya...? So he cannot be considered in proper line.

Prabhupāda: Because Vallabhācārya was rejected by Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: He's in the line with...

Prabhupāda: He accepted him as learned scholar, but He did not accept him as very highly realized soul.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, you explained that before. His guru, Vallabhācārya's guru, is... He's in Mādhavendra Purī's line?

Prabhupāda: Hm? No.

Acyutānanda: Viṣṇu Svāmī...

Prabhupāda: They come in the Viṣṇu Svāmī. I do not exactly know who was his immediate guru.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

The whole devotional process is purificatory process. The more he is purified, he becomes high-class devotee. But the process is the path of liberation. Just like mango. The green mango, this green mango will be ripe mango. The same mango. You cannot say that the ripe mango is different from the green mango. It is a process.

Room Conversation -- August 11, 1976, Tehran:

Prabhupāda: No, highest ignorance, highest rascaldom. (laughter) Yes. How one can become God? If one can become God, that means the such-and-such, he was God. Then how he has become dog? That is another rascaldom, ambition.

Jñānagamya: A devotee is only supposed to want service, and sometimes he very much wants to be liberated to be finished with all this difficulty, isn't it?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Jñānagamya: Is it very contaminating?

Prabhupāda: Not contaminating, not in the highest stage. That is not contaminating. If the devotee wants liberation, then they're in the lower stage. Actually, a devotee, he is already liberated. Why he shall aspire after liberation?

Jñānagamya: Pure devotee's liberated.

Prabhupāda: Therefore when he's purified, he's already liberated. There is no question of his aspiring after liberation. He's already liberated. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate (BG 14.26).

Ātreya Ṛṣi: If the devotee's purified, he's convinced that if he becomes purified he will be free.

Prabhupāda: Yes. The whole devotional process is purificatory process. The more he is purified, he becomes high-class devotee. But the process is the path of liberation. Just like mango. The green mango, this green mango will be ripe mango. The same mango. You cannot say that the ripe mango is different from the green mango. It is a process. By the process the same green mango becomes yellow; then it is perfect. (long pause, devotees chant japa in background) What is that point, there are thirty theories or something about this Mars planet?

Devotee: Twenty-two theories.

Prabhupāda: You just told?

Devotee: They are trying to understand the geology of the planet and how the surface of the planet was formed, what...

Prabhupāda: They have different... (break)

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

It is not that they should be forbidden altogether. No. That is meant for a certain high-class devotees, not for ordinary persons.

Room Conversation with Film Producer about Krsna Lila -- January 22, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: No. There are many bābājīs. Just like I told you...

Guest (1): No, no. He wrote a preface for that book. The preface is...

Prabhupāda: ...that he's thinking himself as Kṛṣṇa and others' woman as the gopīs. They are doing that.

Guest (1): No, no. Same thing. It has been written. It has been advised time to time. This is in our language also. This text...

Guest (2): And he has observed there, "Those who will act Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā, they should have sādhana. They should devotee. They should not take any..." You have to go to that tulasī tree and you have to worship that fruit of...

Prabhupāda: My point is that for ordinary discussion, ordinary show, these things are not meant for. That is my point.

Guest (1): No, we are just depicting the līlās.

Prabhupāda: It is not that they should be forbidden altogether. No. That is meant for a certain high-class devotees, not for ordinary persons.

Guest (2): Here they say that when you get to this Maha-vandana or Kṛṣṇa līlā, they take... Any party. Even one Vaiṣṇava, he was getting a troupe and making that Kṛṣṇa conscious movement here. Or that some of this... The Suri Patel, he became leper. And the woman who was acting as the Rādhā, she also became the victim of leprosy.

Prabhupāda: So why should take such risk? (laughs)

Guest (2): No. No, no, no. What happened...

Prabhupāda: It happened, and it must happen. It must happen. So why should you take that risk?

Guest (1): This is... We are depicting the līlā...

Prabhupāda: Any... Anyway...

Guest (1): You are telling and your disciples are always telling about Kṛṣṇa's sacred(?) līlās. So we are your disciples, and we are telling the līlā in different form. It is in vision. And we are starting from Sarva-bhumna or Sarvabhauma...

Guest (2): We started for keeping the traditions of the songs of the Vaiṣṇavas.

Guest (1): All traditions of Śrī Kṛṣṇa līlā, all Vaiṣṇava, everything.

Guest (2): One aspect. One aspect we have taken, that supreme, the message, essence...

Prabhupāda: No, no... It is... Kṛṣṇa-līlā is in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, why don't you begin from the first chapter of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam? Janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). Just show how Kṛṣṇa is supreme, how everything is coming, coming from Him. Janmādy asya yataḥ anvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ svarāt (SB 1.1.1). These things explain by picture. That will be real education. Why you jump over on the Tenth Canto immediately? That is my point.